Overall, the Syria report finds that the MDGs are achievable. Gains in
education, in particular ensuring access to primary education for all, and
corresponding enrollment with decreases in the gender gap, have brought Syria on
track towards achieving the education and some gender empowerment targets. The
report shows that the net enrollment ratio in primary education for the 6-11 age
group increased from 95.4 percent in 1990 to 98 percent in 2006, and then to 99
percent in 2008.

Similarly, significant reductions in child mortality rates (infant and
under-five) have exceeded specified annual MDG targets at the national level.
The under-five mortality rate fell from 41.7 for every 1000 live births in 1993
to 18.9 in 2008. If this trend continues, the MDG target will be met even before
2015. Nevertheless sub-national variations continue, with the north central city
of Raqa being particularly off-track.

Likewise, while maternal mortality rates are on the decline nationally, a
major challenge remains in the equal distribution of services to reduce
geographical disparities.

The report finds that the country’s main challenge in eradicating extreme
poverty is sustainable environmental management. While many different factors
define the incidence of poverty in the country, climatic changes resulting from
eco-system degradation and the accompanying desertification, have had one of the
strongest influences on poverty dynamics.

As with most countries in the Arab region, water resources in Syria are
already stretched to their limits. This has serious social and economic
consequences, as the country depends on water to produce significant amounts of
agricultural commodities for the region, with the sale of wheat, olive oil,
livestock, fruits and vegetables contributing to almost 20 percent of GDP.
Successive droughts and land deterioration have reduced water availability,
negatively affecting agricultural productivity and income levels.

In 2008, Syria experienced its worst drought in 40 years. The country was
forced to import wheat for the first time in 20 years, and more than one million
jobs in the agricultural sector were affected. 59,000 small farmers lost most of
their herds while some 47,000 farmers with larger holdings lost around 50 – 60
percent of their livestock.

The proportion of land suffering from desertification has risen to reach 4
percent of the total land area of Syria, which represents a quarter of the land
used to feed livestock in the country. Because rural populations depend on
natural resources for their livelihood, this worsening situation has also
triggered internal migration shifts contributing to the “urbanization of
poverty”, with many of the poor in urban areas often living in slums.

The Syria MDG report also highlights regional disparities as a crosscutting
challenge in achieving the Goals, particularly with regard to poverty reduction
and the environmental targets.

In order to tackle these interrelated challenges, the report suggests that
clear national policies be formulated to address environmental emergencies,
reduce environmental pollution and improve disaster risk management.
Additionally, there needs to be greater focus on pro-poor rural development
policies that empower the poor to participate in the economic sphere, and the
involvement of the least developed regions in the broader economic activities of
the country.